I’m continuing my “Letters” project this year with a new group of my very dearest photography friends. Each month I’ll write a letter to one of my babies. This month it’s Emma’s turn…

Well, you are officially two and a half. With. A. Bang. I was naive enough to think we’d somehow, miraculously skip over the terrible twos. But it turns out you’re a normal kid with big feelings and you’re having a tough time managing them. Daddy and I are trying our best to help you figure out how to express yourself, but sometimes you just need to scream and cry and let it all out. It breaks my heart, but I always tell you that it’s okay to be sad and frustrated and angry. I feel that way sometimes, too. We work on taking deep breaths and always talk through things once you’ve calmed down. Sometimes neither of us handles these meltdowns very well, but we always learn and that’s the best we can do. Anyway, enough with the tough stuff… let’s get to the good stuff!

Your ability to communicate beyond your years continues to blow us away, and I love seeing the wheels turning as you work something out or make up something silly. You’re becoming more and more curious about the world around you and have started asking questions about everything… “Is it Saturday? Yes or No?”… “Is this a boy or a girl?”… “Can I have 2 books or 3?”… “What are these kids doing?” And just today you read The Little Blue Truck to me and Daddy, and I was a big old sap and started crying halfway through. I know you were just reciting it from memory, but it was a glimpse into a day, not too far from now, when you are really reading to us. I felt so proud of you, and so excited for what’s to come as you get a little older.

Lately, you’ve gotten really into playing with your Legos and I just love watching you build your “circus,” as you call it. You’ll build a tower as tall as you can reach, and then gleefully knock it down so that you can build it up again.

I think my favorite thing about you at this age is how sweet, cuddly, and generous you are. You always have a million moochies (kisses) for me and Daddy and Jonah, and you love to cook for us in your kitchen and share your loveys with your little brother. It makes you so happy to make us feel loved and cared for… it’s one of your many qualities that I hope never goes away.

I love you so much, boo boo.

I encourage you to head over to my lovely friend Gwen’s blog to read her letter to her children.

Oh, Allie, I love your gift of communication. The way you’ve described this moment immediately took me back to Drew at this age – deep breaths, legos and all! Great pictures as always, especially the last one <3